Machine for capping jars.



vPatenc'ed Dec. 4, |900. E. S. YOUNG.

MACHINE FOB CAPPINE JARS` (Application led Dec. 8, LBQQJ,

(No Model.)

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No. 663,40I. Patented Dec. 4, |900. E. S. YOUNG.

MACHINE FOR CAPPING JARS.

(Appueatinn med nec. e', 1899.)

No Model.) 3 sheets-sneer 2.

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nllllllll .lllllullllvljll l um No. 663,40l. v Patented Dec.- 4, |900. E. S. YOUNG.

MACHINE FOR CAPPING JARS.

(Application leq Dec. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ihvrrnn raras .WENT Fries.

EAUSTAOE S YOUNG, OF MUNOIE, INDIANA.

MACHINE FOR CAPPING JARS.

sPncIFIcATIoN forming part of Lettere Patent No.' 663,401, dated December 4, 1900. Application tiled December 8.1899. Serial No. 739,627. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, EAUSTACE S. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Machine for Capping Jars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a machine for automatically fastening the caps upon jars, such as the Mason fruit-jar, and it will of course be understood that the invention is intended to be used upon all classes and kinds of jars, bott-les, and similar receptacles having caps to close the same. Heretofore these caps have been fastened by hand, and the purpose of this machine is to do automatically what has been done by hand and at the same time to do it much more rapidly.

Broadly speaking, the invention consists in providing a machine into which a quantity of jars and caps are 'fed from different points, bringing said jars and-caps into juxtaposition in regular order, then rotating the cap to fasten the same upon the jar, and finally ejecting the same from the machine capped and headed in the proper manner for the packing-box.

The invention consists alsoin providing means whereby a quantity of caps can be placed in the hopper and delivered to the capping device only one at a time.

The invention also comprehends the provision of suitable means for receiving the said cap and automatically rotating the same as soon as it is brought into the proper position adjacent to the jar.

The invention also includes the proper means for bringing the jars into the machine, carrying them into a position adjacent to the capping device and at such a time that the rotation of the cap will cause the same to be fastened upon the jar.

The invention further includes the mechanism by means of which all the above-mentioned operations are synchronously peri'ormed, and it also includes the various details of construction and the numerous combinations of elements, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a top plan View of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate certa-in other parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the hopper and feed-chute. Fig. 4e is a plan view of a part of the feed-chute. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the delivery and capping mechanisms, the several parts being disconnected to more clearly illustrate their construction. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, the mechanism open to receive a cap and jar. Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the parts'closed. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the jar carrier or feeder.

In constructing a machine for carrying out my invention I employ a broad flat circular ring plate or frame A, which is supported by suitable legs or base A', and a yoke A2 is attached tothe plate or frame A at opposite sides, said yoke extending entirely across the said frame and some distance above the same, the vertical members of said yoke being of such length as may be desirable to secure the elevation for the main body ofthe yoke. The plate or frame A, base or support A', and yoke A2 constitute what may be termed a main frame and upon which all or nearly all of the other parts are arranged. A vertical rotary shaft B is journaled centrally in the main frame, its lower end being journaled in a cross arm or yoke A3, connecting the legs of the hase, While its upper end is journaled in the yoke A2, and a pulley B is mounted upon said shaft within the base and by means of which power is transmitted; but it will be understood that other means may be employed to rotate the shaft. Ahuh orcollar O is attached to the shaft B in a plane slightly above that of the frame or ring A, and rigidly attached to the said hub and radiating therefrom are six horizontal arms D, said arms being of such length that their outer ends travel upon the ring or frame A, said ring serving as both a support and track for the outer ends of the arms. These arms carry all the capping mechanism, and while they travel above the ring or frame A they pass beneath the tracks E, along which the jars or bottles are carried, there being two such tracks E-one at each side of the machines0 that the jars can be fed in from each side and pass through in opposite directions, thus enabling the machine to do double work, and inasmuch as there are IOO two tracks for carrying the jars in opposite directions it will also be preferable to have two devices for feeding the caps, said feed devices extending from opposite sides of the machine; but the feed-hoppers will be so constructed and arranged that one man will be able to supply both.

I shall first describe the cap-feeding mechanism in detail, then the jancarrying and feeding means, and finally the capping mechanism carried by the arms, the six arms each carrying a capping device, being suiiicent to accommodate the two tracks and hoppers, as hereinafter fully set forth.

The hoppers F F (two in number) are arranged at opposite points some distance above the main frame and inclined, as shown, so that the caps will fall freely therefrom. Each hopper is preferably divided into a series of compartments by means of longitudinal partitions F to facilitate the loading of the hopper with the caps, as said caps come packed one within the other, as shown in Fig. 3, and are arranged in rows in the several compartments. A vertical shaker-rod F2 is attached to the hopper for the purpose of shaking or agitating the caps, so as to dislodge them from one another and cause them to drop upon an edged plate G, said plate having a series of openings G large enough to permit a cap to drop through, and after passing through the plate they fall into the feed-chute H, and inasmuch as the lined head of the cap is heavier than the mouth or open end they will always fall mouth upward or outward in the feedchute. This feed-chute H is arranged directly below the plate G and for a portion of its length is of the same width. This portion contains a series of pins H', intended to obstruct the passage of some of the caps, so that the)7 become somewhat separated as they enter the contracted portion H2, where they are further separated by an obstructing-pin H3, so that they are caused to enter the chute portion H4 one at a time, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4, and in this manner they slide to the bottom of the feed-chute, where they are stopped by means of a finger I, carried by a lever I', pivoted upon the end of the chute, which lever and fingers hold the caps until released bythe operation of the capping mechanism.

As previously stated, there are two hoppers, and consequently there are two feed-chutes, and the ends of these chutes are arranged at diametrically opposite points of the machine and project into the path of the deliverychute K, carried by the capping devices, and which receive the cap as it drops from the feed-chute and lead it to the capper, each arm D carrying a complete capping device. The end of the lever I projects below the feed-chute and is tripped by the top of the delivery-chutes striking itslower end. This action forces the linger I inward between the last cap and the one just above it and also withdraws the finger I2 from under the end cap and lets it drop into the chute. As soon as the lever Il is disengaged from the chute K it resumes its normal position kand the caps pass down until the end one is checked by the finger I2. From the delivery-chute K the caps are delivered to the capping devices, which are mounted upon the arms D and move therewith, said devices being dependent upon the movement of the arms for their successive operations, and as all six capping devices are constructed and operated alike a description of one will suce for all. Two upright journal-brackets L and M are arranged upon the arm D adjacent to the inner end and in which a horizontal shaft N is journaled, the outer end of said shaft having a circular disk or plate O secured thereto and against which the cap is projected, as will soon be explained. A sleeve P is splined upon the shaft N between its outer end and the bracketL, so that it turns with the shaft, but is also capable of a longitudinal or sliding movement thereon.

In order to rotate the shaft N, I arrange a pinion Q, thereon between its journal-brackets L and M, said pinion meshing constantly with a toothed rackbar R, arranged upon the under side of a cam-sloped track R', suspended from the yoke A2 by suitably-arranged hangers R2. The track and its rackbar are stationary; but as the arm D rotates, carrying the shaft N, it will be readily seen that as the pinion Q constantly meshes with the rackbar said pinion must rotate and drive the shaft N. As before stated, the cap is projected from the delivery-chute against the disk O and is received upon a curved lip O arranged upon the outer face of the disk orplate O below the center and concentric therewith. The end of the deliverychute is cut away in the form of a semicircle, as shown at K', to permit the delivery of the cap, and a spring-actuated depending guidefinger starts the cap toward the rest -lip O' and is further guided or projected by means of a curvedprojecting plate K3, supported from the yoke A3 and so shaped and curved that the cap is caused to be seated firmly upon the rest-lip O' as soon as it emerges from the delivery-chute, and this plate K'E3 is also provided with a horizontal guide-arm K, which serves to prevent the cap falling out as the arm and capping devices are moved away from the feed-chu te. The delivery-chute, it will be understood, is a part of each capping device, being carried upon the outer end of an arm L', formed upon or projecting from the journal-bracket L. As the cap is projected and seated upon the lip O' open end outward it is grasped or clasped by means of a clamping-lip O2, arranged above the lip O and coinpleting a circle with said lip. The clampinglip is carried bya rod O3, which passes through a guide-lug O4, arranged upon the face of the disk O,and between said clam ping-lip and lug is a spring O5, the tendency of whose action is to force the clamping-lip closed. The nplOl) per end of the rod O3 is pivotally connected toa lever O6,pivoted upon the edge of the disk O, which lever in turn is connected to a presser-rod OS through the medium of a link O7, said presser-rod being located in a longitudinal groove O9, produced in the end of the shaft N just to the rear of the disk O, and this presser-rod is angular in shape, so that by sliding the sleeve P outwardly the' rod is depressed,operating the lever O6, which opens the clampinglip, and in order to slide the sleeve hack andforth upon the shaft I einploy a collar S, which surrounds said sleeve at its inner end and is rotatively connected therewith, so that the sleeve can turn with the shaft and within the sleeve and can be moved upon' said shatt by said sleeve, the

l sleeve having an arm S/ working through the upper portion of the journal-bracket L and at its inner end carries depending pins S2, equipped with anti'friction-rollers,which bear upon the sides of the cam-shaped track and thereby cause the arms S to move in or out as it moves around, thereby operating the collar S and sleeve P, for thepurposes heretofore mentioned. The track R is so shaped that the sleeve P will be forced outwardly just as the cap passes from the delivery-chute, and inasmuch as it is so projected the presserrod O8 will be forced down into the groove O9, opening the clamping-lip O2, so that the cap can be projected into the rest-lip O by means of the plate K3, the position of the several parts being most clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. As the arm D, carrying the capping mechanism, moves away from the feedchute the guide-arm K'L will continue to press upon the cap, and the track being stationary the arm S' is drawn inwardly, moving the collar S aud withdrawing the sleeve P from the presser-rod O8, and the force of the spring O5 immediately causes the clamping-lip O2 to clamp the cap, this position of parts being most clearly shown in Fig. 7.

It is now understood thatthe caps are fed in quantities into the hoppers and delivered one at a time at directly opposite points of the machine and there received by the capping device carried by the rotating arms and held in such position ready to be placed upon the jar or bottle. The capping devices are rotated in'the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, it being understood that the two oppositely-disposed devices receive their respective caps simultaneously and after so receiving` said cap is moved to meet its respective jar, and inasmuch as there are two cap-'feeding devices l also propose to have two jar-feeding devices leading the jars into the machine from opposite sides, as most clearly shown in Fig. l, each jar being arranged in a suitable carrier comprising the tracks T, connected by a cross-rod 'l`/, said carrier being pivotallysu pported upon the upper face of a block V, which travelsin the track E, said blocksV being connected to an endless chain V', passing around d rive-sprockets V2, arranged at opposite ends of the tracks and driven from any suitable source. The track E is curved in the arc of a circle', as shown at E, where it passes over the ring or frame A, and the curved track is made to correspond With the curve of the frame or plate A and is of such a gentle character that the endless chain V', connected to the several blocks V, Will permit the said blocks to travel around this curved portion without binding. The jars or bottles are arranged in the carriers as they emerge from the bottom of the track, the mouth of the jar or bottle being placed upon 'the inside, as most clearly shown, and guidestrips E2 are arranged upon opposite sides of the'track near the starting end in order to properly adjust the jar upon the carrier as it passes toward the capping device. As it reaches the curve of the track a second guide E3 is arranged in order to force the jar into close proximity with the end of the capping device, which at that time has just moved into the proper position for aixing the cap, which has just been received from the adjacent feed-chute. 'lhe shape of the track is such that the cap has been firmly clamped and is now being revolved in such a manner that as the mouth ot' the jar is brought into alinement with the said cap the rotation of the shaft N and the disk O causes the cap to be screwed upon the jar, and in case a greater number of turns should be given to the cap than is necessary to securely fasten the same it will be understood that the jar is free to turn in its carrier. The capping operation is accomplished at the moment the jar and cap are brought into juxtaposition, and as both the carrier and capping devices are moved in unison it now remains to separate them, and this is accomplished by means of a projector P, arranged upon the end ofthe sleeve Pand projecting through an opening P2, produced in the disk O at a point slightly below the center, and inasmuch as the sleeve P is splined upon the shaft N it always rotates therewith, and consequently the projector P' is always in alinemeut with the opening P2, and after the capping operation has been accomplished the arm S through its pins S2 comes in contact with that portion of the track which forces the sleeve P outwardly to its extreme position, thereby not only depressing the rod O8 and opening the clamping-lip, but also forcing the projector P through the opening P2, so that the cap and mouth of the bottle are projected away and from the disk O, and the capped jar is then carried along the track to the end of the machine. rlhe curved portion of the track E is equal to about one-sixth of a circle, and it will be understood that the capping' operations are accomplished during the passage of the jar through this curved portion of the track,the operation begin ning as thejar enters the curve and being completed as it emerges from the curve. Near the end of the track is arranged the trip-block X, which is intended to engage a crosssarm Y, carried by the pivot IIO IIS

of the jar-carrier, the purpose of this tripblock being to throw the carrier to a position at a right angle to its former position, thereby placing the bottle longitudinally of the track instead of transverse, and it is fed from the end of the track in this position, so that it is readily caught by the packer and arranged in the packing-box properly capped.

The shaker-rod F2 is operatively connected with a crank-shaft W', which always serves as the drive-shaft for the sprocket-chain, so that as the machine is being operated the feed-hopper will be agitated in such a manner that the caps tightly packed together in rows will readily become disengaged and fall upon the separating board or plate.

In the practical operation of a machine constructed in accordance with myinvention the hoppers are filled to their full extent with caps arranged in rows, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. The agitation of the hoppers causes the caps to fall upon the separating board or plate, from which they pass into the feedchute mouth upward, and the feed-chute being inclined they readily pass therethrough one at a time, being so directed by the obstructing-pins arranged at the upper ends of the feed-chutes. During this operation the main shaft is carrying the horizontal arms around upon the circular frame or plate A and beneath the tracks E, and as there are two feed-chutes emptying into directly-opposite points of the machine it will be understood that twocaps are simultaneously discharged into the delivery-chutes by the said chutes coming in contact with the trippinglevers at the end of the'feed-chutes. These caps are also delivered when the deliverychute is approaching or directly opposite the curved and projecting plate K3, and the camshaped bracket is of such shape and so arranged with reference to the several parts that the sleeve P will be projected forwardly or outwardly a sufficient distance to operate the presser-rod and open the clamping-lip just as the cap emerges from the deliverychute and is directed or projected upon the rest-lip by means of the guide-linger K2 and curved plate K3; but the projector P will not be projected through the disk at this time. As soon as the cap has been seated upon the rest-lip the arm S' will have reached another portion of the track and the sleeve will be withdrawn, thereby permitting the clampinglip to clamp upon the cap, and as the arm D, carrying the cap device, moves away from the plate K3 the cap is steadied in its proper position by means of the long curved guidearm K4, which extends nearly up to the curve of the track along which the bottle-carrier is moving, and the various driving mechanisms of the machine are so timed that as the arm I), with its capping device, carrying the cap, reaches the curved portion of the track E a bottle-carrier, with a bottle or jar, will have entered said curved portion, and the jar and cap will remain in juxtaposition during the entire passage of the carrier through the curved portion of the track, and during this entire movement the disk-carrying cap is be-" ing rotated, thereby screwing the said cap upon the jar, and in case the said cap is screwed down firmly before the end of the curve is reached it will be readily understood that the jar or bottle itself can rotate in its carrier, inasmuch as there is no restraining means to prevent such rotation, and as the carrier reaches the end of the curve the shape of the cam-track is such that the sleeve P is projected to its outermost position upon the ing to facilitate the packing operation, it being understood, of course, that there is fa packer at the end of each track to receive the bottles or jars as they are discharged therefrom.

It will thus be seen that I provide a machine which will automatically secure the caps upon the jars or bottles which are fed through the machine, thereby not only doing what has heretofore been done by hand, but also doing it much more accurately and rapidly.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by `Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a machine of the kind described, the

IOO

combination with the cap-feeding mechanism, of the jar-feeding mechanism and the capping device adapted to receive the caps and fasten them upon the jars by rotation, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a machine of the kind described the combination with the hopper and feed-chute of the bottle-carriers adapted to operate as described, the capping device carrying the delivery-chutes and provided with means for rotating the caps to secure them upon the bottles, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the mainV frame of the tracks arranged upon opposite sides thereof, a main shaft journaled in the side frame, the arms radiating from said shaft, the capping devices arranged upon said arms, the hopper arranged upon the main frame and having the feed-chute extending therefrom adapted to deliver the caps one at a time into the delivery-chute of the .capping devices, means for carrying the bottles or jars along the track and means for operating the capping devices to receive the cap from the deliverychute and arrange the same upon the bottle or jar, substantially as shown and described. et. In a machine of the kind described the IIO combination with the main frame of the tracks arranged upon opposite sides thereof and having bottle or jar carriers moving in said tracks, the rotating shaft journaled in the main frame and having a series of horizontal arms radiating therefrom, the capping devices arranged upon said arms, the hoppers and feed-chute arranged upon the main frame and adapted to deliver the caps to the capping devices through the medium of said chute carried by the said capping devices, means whereby the said caps are rotated as the mouth of the bottle orjaris brought into juxtaposition therewith, substantially as shown and described 5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with ahopper of a perforated separating-board arranged at the end thereof, and the feed-chute arranged beneath said separating-board all of said parts being inclined and the chute extending below the lower end of the separating-board, substantially as and for the purpose described.

G. In a machine of the kind described the combination with the hopper of the separating-board arranged at the end thereof, a feedchute arranged directly beneath the said separating-board,'said feed-chute having one or more obstruction-pins, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a-machine of the kind described, the combination with the hopper divided longitudinally in aseries of compartments adapted to receive rows of caps and perforated sepa* rating-board arranged at the end of said hopper, and feed-chute arranged directly beneath the said separating-board and havinga series of obstructing-pins for the purpose of separating the caps in their passage from the enlarged to the contracted portion of the feeding-chute, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the main frame, rotary shaft and horizonal arm radiating from said shaft, of a horizontal shaft journaled above the said horizontal arm and having a disk at its outer end and the pinion adjacent to its inner end, means arranged upon the said disk for receiving the cap, the rack-bar supported by the main frame and adapted to engage the pinion whereby the horizontal shaft is rotated, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a machine of the kind described the combination with the main frame rotary shaft and horizontal arm radiating from the said rotary shaft, of the horizontal shaft journaled above the horizontal arm and having a disk at its out-er end and a gear adjacent to itsinner end, a delivery-chute connected with the horizontal arm and arranged adjacent to the disk, means arranged upon the forward face of the disk for receiving and clamping the caps as they are delivered from the delivery-chute and a continuous rack-bar supported by the main frame and adapted to engage the gear or pinion whereby the said horizontal shaft is rotated, for the purpose of fastening the cap upon the bottle or jar, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the horizontal arm of the horizontal shaft journaled upon said arm in suitable jou mal-brackets, one of said brackets having an arm projecting forwardly therefrom, adelivery-chute arranged upon the forward end of said arm and adapted to receivethe caps one at a time from the feeding-chute, a disk arranged upon the outer end of the horizontal shaft and having a lip upon its outer face to receive and clamp the cap as it is delivered from the delivery-chute, means for operating the clam ping-lip together with means for rotating the shaft, substantially as shown and described.

11. The combination with the horizontal arm of the horizontal shaft journaled above vsaid arm in suitable journal-brackets, one of said brackets having an outwardly-extending arm, a delivery-chu te arranged upon the end of said arm, and adapted to receive the caps one at a time, a disk arranged upon the outer end ofthe rotating shaft and having a rest and clamping lip arranged upon its outer face, the operating spring and lever connected with the clamping-lip, a pinion arranged upon the inner end of the rotating shaft and adapted for engagement with a continuous rack-bar supported by the main frame, a sleeve splined upon the rotating shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, and means for sliding the said sleeve upon the rotating shaft whereby the clamping-lip is opened and closed, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a machine of thekind described, the combination with the rotating shaft carrying a disk at its outer end, and the rest and clamping lip arranged upon said disk the operating spring and lever connected to the clampinglip, the pressure-rod carried by theshaft ina groove produced in said shaft, the sleeve splined upon the shaft and having a collar connected thereto, said collar having an arm projecting inward therefrom, a cam-shaft track adapted to operatively engage theinner end of said arm and a rack-bar arranged in connection with said track and a pinion mounted upon the rotary shaft whereby said shaft is rotated as it is moved around, substantially as shown and described.

18. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the delivery-chute having a spring-actuated guide-arm at its lower end, of a curved projecting blade arranged adjacent to the end of the delivery-chute, and the disk having a rest and clamping lip arranged upon the outer face of said disk and means for operating the clamping-lip and rotating the disk, substantially as shown and described.

14. The combination with the horizontal at the forward end thereof, and having the TOO rest and clamping lips arranged thereon, an operating-spring, a lever and pressing-rod for operating the clamping lips, the sleeve splined upon the rotary shaft and having a projector extension through the disk and means for rotating the shaft and operating the sleeve, substantially as described.

15. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the track of an endless .chain moved therethrough, and the bottle or jar carriers pivotally mounted upon the chain, and means for turning the carriers, substantially as shown and described.

16. In a machine of the kind described the combination with the track of an endless chain moving therethrough, the blocks connected to the chain and moving in the track, the jar or bottle carriers mounted upon the said blocks, the guides arranged upon opposite sides of the track, and a tripping-block for shifting the position of the bottle-carrier, substantially as shown and described.

17. In a machine of the kind described the combination with the track, an endless chain of the blocks connected to the chain and traveling upon the track, of the jar or bottle carriers pivotally mounted upon the box and having the cross-arm connected to its pivot, and a tripping-block arranged at one side of the track and adapted to engage the cross-arm for the purpose of turning the bottle-carrier, substantially as shown and described.

18. In a machine of the kind described the combination with the main frame, a rotarjT shaft, of the horizontal arms radiating from said horizontal shaft, the capping devices arranged upon the said horizontal arms and comprising means for receiving, clamping and rotating the caps, the delivery-chutes connected with the horizontal arms, the feedhoppers and feed-chutes for feeding the caps one at a time to the deliverychutes, the

tracks arranged upon opposite sides of the main frame and curved intermediate their ends in an arc of a circle, the jar or bottle carriers adapted to hold the jar or bottle and travel along the said track whereby the said jar or bottle is brought into juxtaposition with the cap during its movements through the curved portion ot' the track, means arranged within the main frame for operating the capping devices and means connected EAUSTACE S. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

CMAS. E. BROCK, CLARENCE SHAW. 

